As i am quite interested in barndoor buses that were modified by coachbuilders, i collected all pics that i found here on thesamba and started some topics about them. I want to collect all the information about these special buses in their respective threads, where we can start discussions about the pics and buses.

This topic is about Kohlruss buses, other topics about Karl Schreiner and Unknown coachbuilders will follow!

Hans Kohlruss

Now let's start with Hans Kohlruss, i think currently he is the most famous coachbuilder we know. He created deluxe panorama buses starting with factory delivered panels! Most important signs of his buses are the two roof windows above the driver cabin as well as the two long side-windows with a silver-coloured frame on the left side of the bus - i can’t say what kind of metal it really is...
On the right side of the bus he kept the factory made passenger doors and built in small windows - followed by another sliding-window. Also note all of the deluxe trim on the buses!

paella wrote:

this is somehow an offical photo, because it wears the Kohlruss stamp on the back:

the stamp:

detail of the steering wheel:

Here is a pic of his workshop in Vienna – I don’t know which one it shows, as there are 2 known addresses (as shown above – “Obere Donaustrasse 29-31, 1020 Vienna” and “Brigittaplatz 19, 1200 Vienna”).

I don't have any numbers about how many buses were modified by Hans Kohlruss. Today, there is only one bus known that has survived.
It has been found about 3 years ago in the woods near Villach in Austria. The guys who found it dug around the place where it has been found to rescue every single screw and rusty piece of metal.
Afterwards the bus went in the hands of Mark S., who does some magic kind of restoration – he created a facebook group called The Kohlruss VW Barndoor Restoration where you can follow this truly awesome project!

I do have a few other Kohlruss pics – I will add them by time but for the first I just wanted to collect all pics that I found on thesamba forum & gallery.

Of course it is possible that I was wrong with something or that I forgot a photo – if so, please apologize. Feel free to put it right and add more photos!
If anyone wants to know, where i found the pics - just contact me and i'll send you the link with the original posts!

Most important signs of his buses are the two roof windows above the driver cabin as well as the two long side-windows with a silver-coloured frame on the left side of the bus - i can’t say what kind of metal it really is...

All the custom built window trim was made by hand from Aluminium stock and each window frame/openings are stamped with a matching number, so that each frame goes into its intended place after painting._________________Hotrods, Fords, Veedubs and Triumph Twins ! ______+ Kohlruss Coachbuilt DLX afficionado
'51 Brezel project, Azurblau mit Rheumaklappen
'55 Oval Sunroof project with my son
'56 Oval og paint og chrome og everything

And it was on its way to the LE MANS CLASSIC.... and arrived with some small problems.... Nothing that could'nt be solved with some on board tools. Great effort to the Mark.I hope he will have a good time in LE MANS._________________Zelensis, glassfibre body made in Belgium , disigned and built on a VW platform About 25 body's built.
Hebmuller info wanted

i dont really care about vws anymore but in case none of you realize it this bus is the sickest vw bus to be found and built as it was ever.........anyone with money can own a plain jane bd 23.......a coachbuilt more exotic than a factory deluxe?......all the bd 23s in the world could join as one like voltron and not come close to defeating the radness of this old turd_________________Have a great day!